7506 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

7506.1 Subject to § 7506.2, this section shall apply to renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license for a term beginning February 1, 2009, and for subsequent terms thereafter.

7506.2 This section shall not apply to applicants for an initial license by examination, reciprocity, or endorsement, nor does it apply to applicants for the first renewal of a license granted by examination.

7506.3 A continuing education credit shall be valid only if it is part of a program or activity approved by the Board in accordance with § 7507.

7506.4 An applicant for renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license shall submit proof pursuant to § 7506.7 of having completed twelve (12) hours of approved continuing education credit during the two (2) -year period preceding the date the license expires which shall consist of the following:

(a) Three (3) hours of professional ethics; and

(b) Nine (9) hours of massage-related course work provided by a Board approved provider, of which six (6) hours shall be hands-on, massage-technique course(s) completed in a live classroom setting taught by an appropriate instructor.

7506.5 To qualify for a license, a person in inactive status within the meaning of D.C. Code § 2-3305.11, who submits an application to reactivate a license shall submit proof pursuant to § 7506.7 of having completed six (6) hours of approved continuing education credit for each license year after January 31, 1999, that the applicant was in inactive status.

7506.6 To qualify for reinstatement of a license to practice massage therapy, an applicant shall submit proof pursuant to § 7506.7 of having completed the following:

(a) Twelve (12) hours of approved continuing education during the two (2)-year period preceding the date the license expired in accordance with § 7506.4;

(b) Four and one half (4.5) hours of approved continuing education credit for each year after the expiration of the license, with at least three (3) hours of hands-on, massage-technique course(s) completed in a live classroom setting taught by an appropriate instructor; and

(c) One and one-half (1.5) hours of professional ethics for each year after the expiration of the license.

7506.7 An applicant under this section shall prove completion of required continuing education credits by submitting with the application the following information with respect to each program:- (a) The name and address of the sponsor of the program;

- (b) The name of the program, its location, a description of the subject matter covered, and the names of the instructors;

- (c) The dates on which the applicant attended the program;

- (d) The hours of credit claimed; and

- (e) Verification by the sponsor of completion, by signature or stamp.7506.8 An applicant for renewal of a license who fails to submit proof of having completed continuing education requirements by the date the license expires may renew the license up to sixty (60) days after expiration by submitting proof pursuant to § 7506.7 and by paying the required additional late fee.7506.9 Upon submitting proof and paying the late fee, the applicant shall be deemed to have possessed a valid license during the period between the expiration of the license and the submission of the required documentation and payment of the late fee.7506.10 If an applicant for renewal of a license fails to submit proof of completion of continuing education requirements or pay the late fee within sixty (60) days after the expiration of applicant's license, the license shall be considered to have lapsed on the date of expiration.7506.11 The Board may, in its discretion, grant an extension of the sixty (60) day period to renew after expiration if the applicant's failure to submit proof of completion was for good cause. For purposes of this section, 'good cause' includes the following:- (a) Serious and protracted illness of the applicant;

- (b) The death or serious and protracted illness of a member of the applicant's immediate family.7506.12 The Board shall periodically conduct a random audit of at least five percent (5%) of its active licensees to determine continuing education compliance. Any licensee selected for the audit shall return the completed continuing education compliance audit form and all supporting documentation to the Board within thirty (30) days

of receiving notification of the audit. Failure to comply with the continuing education requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the Board.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 45 DCR 7716 (October 30, 1998); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 2048 (May 7, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 52 DCR 8524 (September 16, 2005); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 8933 (September 14, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 15847 (December 11, 2015).